Washington Rock State Park, New Jersey
1st Dec 2007, 1050hrs
"I'm really sorry for you, Sam. Everyone at the agency feels the same as well." Lambert told the man sitting beside him on the bench.
"They know already?"
"Yeah. I messaged Grimm after the doctor's confirmation, and she told the rest of the team."
"Fuck the agency." Sam coldly replied.
"What do you mean by that? Look, it's no one's fault here. It was an accident, you couldn't have prevented it." Lambert tried to reassure his best friend of ten years. Having worked with the man for a decade, the director of Third Echelon was now finding difficulty in consoling a very devastated Sam Fisher.
"Couldn't have prevented?" Sam asked sarcastically. "If I hadn't been in Iceland trying so hard to keep myself fucking warm, I would have been back here in the fucking States driving Sarah home!" he slammed his fist onto the wooden bench, which startled his boss. A few seconds of silence ensued before Sam continued. "Sorry, I'm just too emotional now."
Lambert patted his back. "I understand. Things have been too hard on you…"
"No. You don't understand. I lost Regan twenty years ago. Now Sarah is gone. What is it like to lose two of your closest kin?"
Lambert could not answer. He was fifty-two, two years younger than Sam, and living with a much complete and happier family.
"You can't, can you?" Sam snickered and stared back into the sky. He thought he saw that familiar girlish smile above the treeline, but just as suddenly as it had appeared, the image vanished. He let the hot coffee moist his parched lips in the cold winter before spitting the drink out.
"Jeez, don't you ever get the brew right?" Sam asked as Lambert took another sip.
"They were having an offer at Starbucks." Lambert tried to let a little humour kick into the conversation but doubted it would liven things up. "Well now you have all the time you want to sip that old favourite Murphy's."
"What do you mean?" Sam managed to force a sip down his throat. Having a warm drink was necessary in such weather. He did not enjoy such privileges in Iceland a week ago.
"I'm giving you a break."
"Hmph. You always say that and two days after I've settled back into normal Jersey life you call me up again."
"I know. But this time it's for real. And it'll be a long one."
Sam pondered over the reply. Lambert's words did not sound quite right. He was expecting his boss to say something like "Get over it ASAP and get back to work soon" or "We still need your mind and soul here".
"How long?"
Lambert hesitated a little before replying. "I'm relieving you, Sam."
Sam shook his head in disbelief. "What? You know I can't live without this job, Lambert. This is my life!"
"I know, but at your current state, the agency deems you psychologically unfit for duty. Even your body is beginning to degenerate. You won't survive much longer if I still put you out there."
"I refuse to leave! I am still fit! I can get over Sarah's death in a short time, but you must not remove my name from Third Echelon!" Sam was getting close to hysterical. It was as though it was the second worst news after his daughter's death.
Lambert put two firm hands on Sam's shoulders. "It's what's best for you now, Sam. And I wasn't the one who gave the order. Williams did."
"Who's Williams?"
"He's a new guy at Third Echelon. Taking up the role as Assistant Director, a newly-created position."
"But you are the boss!"
"Yes, but Williams had the backing of other senior staff. He looked through your case file and decided that you should be discharged. I thought it would benefit you too, that's why I seconded it."
"Damn…" Sam slumped back into the bench and sighed. After enjoying a career spiral up and even planning as a future permanent mentor for other Splinter Cell operatives, Sam had to now live with the fact that his plan were now worth as trash.
"So you expect me to live on my pathetic pension?"
"You could sell your TV for starters, you don't even watch the channels. But no, the NSA's giving you a retirement allowance, 'in recognition of your immense contribution to the agency and the country'." Lambert quoted an official government-registered letter as he passed Sam a Manila envelope.
"All the documents are inside. Discharge forms, psychologist's report, retirement allowance." Sam took one glance at the stack of forms and sighed again before closing the envelope.
"We'll keep in contact, and if there's anything that you need me to help you with. Call me, though returning to work is certainly out of question."
"Right… Thanks Lambert." Sam graciously accepted his boss's offer. He knew he was the only person he could depend on now.
"I'll see you around." Lambert picked up his Styrofoam cup and got up from the bench. He extended his hand to his old friend, which Sam shook hard. "Thanks for all that you've done."
"You could have said that last Christmas." Sam joked. Both men laughed and then it was time for Lambert to leave.
Sam continued sitting on the bench, staring into the open space. He sprinkled a handful of crumbs onto the floor and let the pigeons enjoy their treat, while he took another sip of the Starbucks coffee.
His watch's alarm beeped. The time was 11.45am.
